The Lemon Index2025 Volkswagen Jetta.
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta is so far better than average by owner complaints: 30 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 82, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about automatic emergency braking, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 33 mpg combined. The best Volkswagen Jetta year is 2018.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 30 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Volkswagen Jetta year. 2025 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Recalls 2
- electrical 2026
The instrument panel may fail to display warning lights or gauges.
- electrical 2026
The transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during assembly, causing an open electrical circuit.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Volkswagen told dealers about
Volkswagen sent dealers 148 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Manual transmission noise diagnosing
- Diagnosing Manual Transmission Noise
- Oil leak from Cylinder Head Cover; Customer states MIL-on, P0456, P0442, or P04F0 stored in…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Jetta GLI 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1950 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
2025 Volkswagen Jetta SE with 12,000. Developed transmission whine from 1200-2000 RPM. During low speed acceleration and when engine is under slight load. It is whining sound coming from transmission.
2025 Volkswagen Jetta owner · NHTSA complaint 11724859
More owner reports
I am not sure. My brakes are making noise. I made multi complaints to dealer and vw. I saw owner with the same car and he had the same problem. Please look into this. Something is wrong with brakes on VWs
NHTSA complaint 11770572
Quick answers
Is the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.2× fewer complaints than average per car sold, against other 2025 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 82; 100 is average). The best Volkswagen Jetta year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2025 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are automatic emergency braking (37%), transmission & drivetrain (20%) and fuel or ev drive system (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta have?
2 safety recalls (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta get?
33 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 20% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta cost in fuel a year?
About $1950 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta have?
1.5L 4-cyl.
What Volkswagen Jetta year is better than the 2025?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2020 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works